What has expertise got to do with strawberries?

Are you an expert in your particular chosen field?

Do you say you are, or do others say that of you?

But a couple of questions:

• Are you still willing to learn?
• Are you keeping up with what is happening in your industry?

If you're not and you don't - your expertise will not last long. Like a ripe strawberry your expertise will turn to mush. Unfortunately we find people who still think they are, and guess what - their words and their ideas are verbal mush - with absolutely no substance behind them.

With technology changing at a breakneck speed it's not just the IT people who have to keep up, but everyone who uses it, and needs it to do their job. Can you imagine the scientist who thought the best invention was the pencil, closely followed by paper? What do I need a calculator for? I have my brain to do the workings out I need. And of course I would doubt there are many calculators used compared to the number of software applications that can do calculations to the billionth degree in a matter of seconds. And of course it's not just technology we need to keep up with.

Two things:

1. Don't ever get to the point where you think you are "THE" expert on a subject - you're not - get over it. Remember the strawberry - we are the strawberry.
2. If someone else calls you an expert - say thank you. Don't turn down a compliment - but remember - we are only as good as the last idea we had, and if you're not keeping up - your expertise will not be that at all - your expert-ease - it will get harder and harder to maintain. Remember the strawberry.